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Lead Developer of Popular Windows Application Classic Shell Is Quitting
WheezyJoe writes: Classic Shell is a free Windows application that for years has replaced Microsoft's Start Screen or Start Menu with a highly configurable, more familiar non-tile Start menu. Yesterday, the lead developer released what he said would be the last version of Classic Shell. Citing other interests and the frequency at which Microsoft releases updates to Windows 10, as well as lagging support for the Win32 programming model, the developer says that he won't work on the program anymore. The application's source code is available on SourceForge, so there is a chance others may come and fork the code to continue development. There are several alternatives available, some pay and some free (like Start10 and Start Is Back++), but Classic Shell has an exceptionally broad range of tweaks and customizability.
Only way I'll have Win10, is for classic shell putting it back to look like Windows 7
"How exactly would you improve on a compact, low mouse travel distance UI, with user customizable organization methods"
Let's see:
I wouldn't make it a popup window that has tendency to disappear on its under a variety of situations that don't involve the user wanting it to disappear.
I certainly wouldn't make it fixed size and crammed into a corner.
I wouldn't do a hierarchical tree navigation with a single vertical panel showing just one level of one branch. We have far better tree navigation GUI.
And I definitely wouldn't mix the system administration elements with the user configured application elements.
Nor would I make it so cumbersome to manage. The 'stuff I need' vs 'everything installed on the PC' all mashed together, plus control panels and turning it off.
"Windows 7's Start Menu is clearly an evolved design centered around practical application."
It evolved by throwing everything into it, like a kitchen sink, with no real plan.
Windows 10's system admin stuff on the right click is a big improvement -- I love that. Windows 10's settings and control panel situation is just miserable. The search has improved over 7 a lot. The menu is vertically resizable which is a step in the right direction. The tree navigation is still pretty weak. Manuging custom start menu folders by moving it to toolbars is actually an improvement... but on that still needs more improvement.
cortana is fine for desktop search, but its annoying that you have to tell it not to suggest shit from the web, news headlines, the stupid app store.
I quite like spotlight on OSX, and launchpad isn't bad either -- far better than windows 8, but still kind of clunky. The problem hasn't been fully solved yet. ClassicShell however wasn't a step forward, its just stuck holding onto a mediocre past.
Classic shell doesn't just restore the old style menus, in the process it also gets rid of all the dynamic built-in advertising and links to bundled junk like candy crush, xbox live, headline news, the windows store, etc. -- cheaply and quickly gets rid of a ton of clutter in a corporate environment.
I'm sure that's the main reason that Microsoft will never restore the old style start menu on their own.